Sue Prado | Image: Facebook/May Shereen Prado
MANILA — Character actress Sue Prado, a respected presence in Philippine independent cinema and television, died Tuesday, April 14. She was 44.
Her death was confirmed in a public statement released by her sister, May Shereen Prado, on Wednesday evening. The family did not disclose the cause of death and asked for privacy.
“Sue brought light in anyone’s path throughout her life,” the statement read. “A life lived for others, for the craft she nourished and for those who she loved most.”
Prado built a reputation for precise, immersive performances, often portraying emotionally layered supporting roles that anchored ensemble casts. A graduate of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, she emerged in the early 2000s as a reliable collaborator for independent filmmakers associated with the country’s contemporary “New Wave” cinema.
Her film work includes Thelma (2011), where her performance drew critical attention; Barber’s Tales (2013), a period drama that screened internationally; and Oro (2016), noted for its stark depiction of small-scale mining communities. In GomBurZa (2023), she portrayed Teodora Alonso, mother of national hero Jose Rizal.
Colleagues described her as professionally active up to the week of her passing. On April 11, she attended a story conference in Quezon City for a forthcoming project titled The Flying Red Balloon.
Beyond film, Prado maintained a steady presence on television, appearing in long-running and mainstream productions such as FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, Abot Kamay na Pangarap, and the digital series Gameboys.
Her body of work, spanning independent cinema and network television, positioned her as one of the industry’s most dependable character actors, valued less for visibility than for the consistency and depth she brought to every role.
